Rolling mill spindle and coupling



Dec. 2l, 1954 E. 1'. PETERSON ROLLING MILL SPINDLE AND COUPLING Y 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l1 1951 5V grp fain/ard Tf@ Dec. 2l, 1954 E. T. PETERSON ROLLING MILL SPINDLE AND COUPLING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June ll, 1951 Dec. 21, 1954 E. T. PETERSON 2,697,335

ROLLING MILL SPINDLE AND COUPLING Filed June 11. 1951 4.Sheetsv-Sheet 5 INVENTOR S74 Edu/arafZPeensalz.

Dec. 2l, 1954 E. T. PETERSON ROLLING MILL SPINDLE AND COUPLING 4 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed June 11, 1951 RH. M mm f4 f M ,W 5

United States PatentO ROLLING MILL SPINDLE AND COUPLING Application June 11, 1951, Serial No. 230,896 i 3 Claims. (Cl. 64-8) The present invention relates to drives for devices in which rolls with variable center distances are driven from shafts with xed center distances, and especially to couplings and spindles for rolling mills and the like.

A purpose of the invention is to facilitate the removal of a roll by making it possible to remove the coupling from the end of the roll while the roll is in normal position in the roll stand of a rolling mill.

A further purpose is to avoid the necessity of producing spade ends on rolls and pinion extensions or spindles.

further purpose is to reduce the cost and increase the reliability and serviceability of spindle couplings.

A further purpose is to obtain sliding and universal joint11 action in the coupling at one end of a rolling mill spin e.

A further purpose is to obtain the universal action by opposed bearing blocks which externally conform to a..

cylindrical transverse surface of a coupling box and are internally at and internally engage a squared or spade end on a spindle and pivotally connect the spade end of a spindle with the bearing blocks, so that the spindle can swing about its can turn bodily in the transverse plane.

A further purpose is to anchor the ends of the bearing blocks against the ends of the cylindrical surface provided by an outer coupling box. p

A further purpose is to provide resilient counter-balanced supporting arms beneath the spindles to prevent them from dropping when the couplings are removed from the rolls.

1 Further purposes appear in the specification and in the c aims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a metal rolling mill to which the invention has been applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partially broken side elevation of the spindle of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of Figure 2 on the line 3 3.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of Figure 2 on the line 4-4.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section of Figure 2 on the line 5 5.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective of certain of the operating components of the coupling box at the gear end of the spindle.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section of Figure 1 on the line 7 7.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

In the prior art, rolling mill rolls have been normally provided with spade ends and these have been connected through couplings with spade ends on the pinion extension. The couplings provide universal joint action but do not permit longitudinal movement of the character which would be necessary to remove the rolls. It is therefore usually necessary to move the rolls axially before they can be raised by the crane even in those mill housings which have removable caps and therefore would other- Awise permit raising of the rolls directly in roll changing.

The manufacture of the spade ends and the rolls and extensions is expensive. 0

The present invention is concerned with facilitating roll pivot in one plane and the bearing blocks 2,697,335 #attested Dec. 21,,1954

. 2 Y changing by permitting the withdrawal of the spindle coupling from the end of the roll so that the roll can be removed immediately by vertical motion. Provision is also made in the invention for supporting the spindles when they are detached from the ends of the rolls.

In accordance with the invention it is no longer necessary to go to the expense of applying spade ends of the pinion extensions to the rolls. Ordinary cylindrical ends with keyways or set screw sockets can be employed.

The design of the coupling boxes has been simplified in accordance with the invention, the externally cylindrical bearing blocks engaging the exterior coupling box at the ends of the box, taking the torque at the ends as well as on the side surfaces of the blocks. This is a very simple and sturdy construction.

Provision has also been made for sliding and guiding the inner coupling box so as to minimize lost motion in the parts.

Figure 1 shows a rolling mill and its drives to which the invention may conveniently be applied.

A prime mover 20, such as an electric motor, drives a shaft 21 on bearings 22 and is interconnected with a gear box 23 by couplings 24 and 25 of any well known character at opposite ends of a spindle 26.

At the outer side of the gear box any suitable number of gear spindles or pinion extensions 27 is provided, in this case two being shown. It will be evident, however, that the number will depend upon the number of rolls in the mill, there being three gear spindles in a three high mill and two in a two high mill.

A roll stand 28 of any well known character is driven by the gear spindles. The roll stand is provided with rolls 30. The roll stand is very desirably of the type which has removable caps so that the rolls can be lifted out vertically when the On the gear spindles having keyways 32. drical ends 33 having in Figure 3.

Couplings 35 on the gear spindles or pinion extensions make universal joint connection to connecting spindles 36 at one end of each spindle and at the other end couplings 37 make universal joint connection betweenfthe rolls 30 and the respective connecting spindles 36.

Each connecting spindle 36 has a squared or spade end 38 in the couplings at the opposite ends of the spindle.

Coupling 35 has an outer coupling box 40, of exteriorly cylindrical contour, which is provided with interiorly cylindrical longitudinally extending guiding walls 41 which define an interior open space which is to receive the internal parts of the coupling box. At suitably opposed positions on the interior circumference of the outer coupling box 40, keys 42 (preferably of bronze or similar bearing material) extend radially inwardly and are desirably mounted in longitudinally extending dovetail slots 43 in the interior surfaces of the coupling box 40. At a central position the keys have grease openings 44 extending inwardly in line with grease fittings 45 in the box 40.

At opposed positions on either side, the cylindrical surfaces 41 are longitudinally interiorly slotted at 46 as best seen in Figure 4 to receive and support the ends of the bearing blocks as later described.

A suitably bifurcated interior coupling box 47 is longitudinally slidably mounted in the coupling box 40. The coupling box 47 has exteriorly cylindrical surfaces 48 at opposite sides which mate with and are slidably guided by the interior cylindrical surfaces 41 on the external coupling box 40. The coupling box 47 also has longitudinal slots 49 which engage and guide on the keys 42. The coupling box 40 has an interior open space 50 at the outer ends of the coupling which is provided with transversely extending internally cylindrical surfaces 51 best seen in Figure 3. The surfaces 51 engage in rockable relationship with bearing blocks 52 suitably of bearing material such as bronze having exteriorly cylindrical surfaces 53.

Internally the bearing blocks 52 have flat chord-like coupling boxes are removed.

cylindrical ends 31 are provided The rolls are provided with cylinset screw recesses 34 as best seen surfaces 54 which swingably mate on the outsides of the lseen in Figure 7.

, drop slightly.

ing blocks are slidably engaged in the longitudinal slots 46 in the outer coupling box 40 so that the bearing blocks exert a supplemental keying action between the outer and the inner coupling box and slide with the inner coupling box as well as rocking with the spindle and permitting pivoting of the spindle.

The spade or squared end 38 of the connecting spindle 36 has a transverse opening 57, and openings 58 in line therewith extend through the bearing blocks. A pivot pin Y60 of length to terminate inside the bearing blocks extends through the openings 57 and 58 and pivots the connecting spindle 36 on the bearing blocks.

The inner coupling box has lubrication openings 61 1n line with pin 60 and in normal position generally in line with lubrication openings 44 in the keys. Lubrication openings 61 are smaller than the pin so that the pin can not become displaced to enter these openings.

The outer coupling box 40 has a keyway 62 which cooperates with keyway 32 in the gear spindle or pinion extension 31 and receives key 63 to hold the outer coupling box on the gear spindle.

To prevent entry of dust, the outer coupling box is closed at the end toward the connecting spindle by a cover 64 secured to the outer coupling box and having an opening 65 to pass the connecting spindle providing adequate freedom and equipped with a resilient dust seal 66.

At the opposite end of the connecting spindle 36, coupling 37 has an outer coupling box 67 suitably of cylindrical exterior form, and socketing the cylindrical end 33 of the roll. A set screw 68 removably attaches the coupling to the roll engaging in set screw recess 34.

On the interior, the coupling box 67 is suitably made from a body 70 surrounded byv and united as by Welding to a sleeve 71. Interiorly the body has opposite prongs 72 provided with a transversely extending cylindrical bore 73 which terminates against end blocks 74 united as by welding to the sleeve. Bearing blocks 7S similar to the bearing blocks already described have exteriorly cylindrical surfaces 76 which engage vthe cylindrical bore 73 and have internally flat or chord-like surfaces 77 which engage the squared or spade end 38 on the connecting blocks are suitably of a bearspindle 36. The bearing ing material such as bronze. A pivotV opening 78V passes through the spade end and pivot openings 80 in the bearin line with the pivot opening 78. A pivot pin 81 extends through the openings 78 and 80 and terminates within the limits of the bearing blocks. Lubrication openings 82 are provided through the coupling box and lubrication the pin 81.

At the open end of the coupling box a cover 84 is secured thereto having an opening 85 to pass the connecting spindle with adequate freedom and closed against dust by a resilient seal 86.

The bearing blocks engage pling box at the ends at 87.

At'. a. point intermediatebetween the ends of the connecting spindles, a support stand. 88 is provided as best Supporting arms 89 extend. ont from the support stand 88 beneath the spindles and are. suitably socketerl at 90 tov engage the spindles when they The arrns are pivotally mounted at 91 on the stand and are counterbalanced to support the weight of the spindle by counterweights 92'l at the endsl remote from the spindles. Removable pinsi 93 beneath the arris limit the downward motion of the counterbal'anced en s.

In operation when it isI desired to remove the rolls, the set screws 68 are unscrewed, and the spindles: and coupling boxes are detached from the rolls"y by sliding the inner coupling box to the left in the outer coupling box at the gear end until the roll coupling nolonger surrounds the end of the roll. Pins 93 are removed before the spindle is slid clear of the roll, so that the counterweights will support the spindle and' couplings as they are slid off and hold them up until the new rolls are: in place. The spindle is then droppedy or lowered to rest on the arm 89 and remainsV in that position while the rolls are changed, suitably by removing the caps of the roll stand as well known.

When the new rolls are in place,` the spindles: are readily aligned with the new rolls by pulling arms 89. The connecting spindles, and. the roll couplings are then moved to the right restoring the position shown in Figing box are fittings 83 connect therewith in line with the inserts 74 of the coui Sol spade end extending into the inner coupling box in env gear spindle,

- gooi/es` which and having transversely extending interior cylindrical sur- .and a pin passing,

'spade end.

ures l, 2 and 3 and the set screws are reconnected to the new rolls.

The drive is then used as in the normal manner, the connecting spindles at each end pivoting on the pins and the bearing blocks swinging on an axis transverse to the pins as required by the extent of misalignment.

It will be understood that in accordance with the invention the bearing blocks laterally engage the spade ends of the connecting spindle and also at their ends engage the outer coupling box while at their outer circumferential surfaces they engage the cylindrical surfaces of the coupling box. There is thus a tortional support throughout the coupling.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rolling mill, a gear spindle and a roll having opposed cylindrical ends,y an outer coupling box removably mounted on the gear spindle and having an open cylindrical interior, an outer coupling box removably mounted on the roll, opposed to the outer coupling box on the gear spindle and having interior cylindrical surfaces extending transversely to the respective axes of the roll and the gear spindle, an inner coupling box longitudinally slidably mounted in the outer coupling box on the gear spindle and the inner coupling box on the gear spindle having interior cylindrical surfaces extending transversely to the respective axes of the roll and the bearing blocks having outer cylindrical surfaces engagng the inner cylindrical surfaces on the outer coupling box on the roll, bearing blocks having outer cylindrical surfaces engaging thel inner cylindrical surfaces on the inner coupling box on the gear spindle and extending endwise beyond the inner coupling box to engage the interior of the outer coupling box on the gear spindle,

Y the outer coupling box on the gear spindle having. recesses which receive the ends of the bearing blocks, and a connectmg spindle having spade ends pivoting respectively von the bearing blocks in the inner coupling box ou the gear spindle and in the outer coupling box on the roll.

2.. In a coupling, a shaft, an outer coupling box on the shaft having a longitudinal interior cylindrical surface, longitudinal interiorly extending keys on the inlouter coupling box and having keyways which engage the keys, the inner coupling box having on each side interior cylindrical surfacesy transverse to the axes of the shafh, there being at the ends of the cylindrical surfaces on each side slotsi im the outer coupling box which are in extension of the cylindrical surfaces, exteriorly cylindrical internally dat opposed bearing blocks` engaging theeyhndrical surfaces of the inner coupling box in opposed relation and engaging in the slots of the outer coupling box at. theV ends: of the cylindrical surfaces, a spindle having a spade end engaging between the interior flat surfaces of the bearing blocks and a pivot pin extending transverse to the axis of the shaft through the bearing blocks and through the spade end of the spindle.

3. In a` coupling, a shaft having ar cylindrical end, an outer coupling box secured on and extending. in prolongation of the end and having longitudinal grooves on the interior, guides positioned in certain of the longitudinal grooves, am inner coupling box positioned inside the outer coupling box, having exterior longitudinally extending receive and cooperate with the guides,

faces, externally cylindrical and internally at bearing blocks inside'. the inner coupling box, engaging the inner cylindrical surfaces of the inner coupling box and at ,the endsl extending beyond the inner coupling box into engagement in` certain of they longitudinal grooves on the msrdeof the outer coupling` box, a spindle having a gagement with the inside surfaces of the bearing blocks through the bearing blocks and the Y (References onfollowing page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Date 2,305,703

Nov. 23,1920 5 2,372,289

Sept. 1, 1925 6 Name Date Wright June 19, 1928 Schmuck Mar. 22, 1938 Smith Dec. 22, 1942 OMalley Mar. 27, 1945 

